Confirmation to cancellation - the story of La Liga's controversial Villarreal-Barcelona plan in Miami

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 22 Oct 2025 07:46 CDT
• 6 min read

News

On Wednesday, 21 October, La Liga officially cancelled plans to stage Villarreal versus Barcelona, a top-flight fixture, in Miami in the United States.

Had the game taken place, it would have been the first time in history that a La Liga match was staged on foreign soil.

The controversial proposals had generated much controversy and supporters were furious. Not only would the two teams receive a cash injection that other clubs wouldn't, but the sporting repercussions meant that the balance of home and away fixtures in La Liga would have been skewed.

UEFA announced opposition to the plans, but ultimately passed the buck to FIFA for the final decision.

Barcelona, Villarreal and La Liga subsequently confirmed that the match was happening, with both clubs set to receive around €6 million, though the Yellow Submarine would have been compensated for a loss in ticket revenue as it is officially their home fixture.

Following a barrage of criticism from fans, players, coaches and other clubs, La Liga decided to scrap the plans.

A statement from the governing body read:

"LALIGA reports that, following discussions with the promoter of the Official LALIGA Match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty surrounding Spain in recent weeks," an official statement from the league read.

"LALIGA deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalization of Spanish football, cannot go ahead.

La Liga footballers protest by NOT playing football in first 15 SECONDS of every match.
Protest against Barcelona vs Villarreal playing an official match in Miami, USA. pic.twitter.com/volV61DT2G

— Gemma Soler (@gemma_soler) October 18, 2025

"Hosting an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our competition, strengthening the international presence of the clubs, the positioning of the players, and the brand of Spanish football in a strategic market like the United States.

"The project fully complied with federal regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, as confirmed by the competent institutions that oversee its implementation, which were opposed for other reasons.

"In a context of increasing global competitiveness, where leagues like the Premier League and competitions like the UEFA Champions League continue to increase their reach and revenue-generating capacity, initiatives like this are essential to ensuring the sustainability and growth of Spanish football.

"Forgoing these types of opportunities hampers the generation of new revenue, limits clubs' ability to invest and compete, and reduces the international reach of the entire Spanish football ecosystem.

"Finally, LALIGA would like to thank the clubs for their willingness and collaboration in this project, as well as their ongoing commitment to the growth of the competition.

"We will continue working, as always, to bring Spanish football to all corners of the world, championing an open, modern, and competitive vision that benefits clubs, players, and fans."

La Liga bosses previously silenced a planned protest from Spanish football fans against the controversial decision to host Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami.

For the last round of top-flight fixtures in Spain, players held a 15-second silent protest at the beginning of each match, not completing any actions on the pitch during that time.

The first match back from the international break saw Real Oviedo take on Espanyol on Friday. But when the protest was staged, broadcast cameras cut away from the pitch so those viewing on television were unable to see.

It was a case of clear censorship from the Spanish football authority.

Football figures oppose abroad fixture plans

A number of football figures criticised the plans before they were eventually cancelled, including some of the players who were set to be involved in the fixture.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick: “My players are not happy, I am not happy, but La Liga decided that we will play this game."

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong: "I don't like us going there, and I don't agree with it.

"It's not fair for the competition and I don't think it's right for the players given the long flight.

"For the clubs, it's about expanding their brand globally. That's probably what it's all about. We always complain about the match schedule and the excessive travel.

"The clubs are going to get paid for this, but I don't agree with playing a league game in Miami. I understand that other clubs don't agree.

“These are financial agreements to give visibility to the league, things that are beyond us. There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.” (Le Figaro)

Former Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman: "It doesn't make any sense. It's ridiculous. Frenkie gives a good explanation. It's not fair. Villarreal-Barcelona is always a difficult away game for Barca, and now they're playing it on a neutral ground. There are more Barcelona fans in the stands than Villarreal fans. So it's not fair either."

Spain international Unai Simon: “Villarreal and Barca have put money ahead of their fans. This harms the fans and adulterates the competition. Barca won’t play on a neutral field in Miami because more than half of the stadium will be Barca’s.”

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois: "LaLiga does whatever it wants because it suits them. This decision distorts the competition. Playing at home is not the same as playing away. In LaLiga, playing away is very difficult, as we saw against Real Sociedad and Getafe. Villarreal away is tough. It's not fair to change the rules mid-season without consulting us.

"The NBA has 82 games, and the NFL's owners collectively approve these decisions [to play matches abroad]. Here, LaLiga acts unilaterally. It's not the same."

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone: "I won't believe it until I see it. The home team loses the advantage. Their fans won't be there, and they have to travel thousands of miles. We need to respect the fans."

Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot spoke against similar plans for Australia to host Milan versus Como: “I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan and I will be playing a Serie A match against Como… in Australia! It’s completely crazy.

La Liga boss comes out swinging

La Liga president Javier Tebas hit back at the cancellation and believes it will impact the growth of Spanish football. He wrote on X:

“Today, Spanish football has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally, and strengthen its future.

“The defence of ‘tradition’ is invoked from a narrow-minded and provincial perspective, while the true traditions of European football are threatened by decisions by the governing institutions, which year after year destroy national leagues, the true driving force of the European football industry, amid the naivety and passivity of European leaders who fail to distinguish the inconsequential from the essential.

“The ‘integrity of the competition’ is invoked by those who have been questioning that same integrity for years, pressuring referees and leaders, constructing distorted narratives, or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool.

“I want to thank Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona for their commitment and generosity in being part of a project that only sought the growth of our competition. They weren’t thinking about themselves, they were thinking about everyone.

“LaLiga will continue working, with rigour and conviction, to keep Spanish football competitive, standing up to those who seek to destroy it, but always respecting its roots and ensuring its sustainability.

“Spanish football deserves to look to the future with ambition, not fear. We will keep trying. This time, we came very close.”